THE PEAR. } 9 7 



within ten or twelve feet in height, and six or seven feet in 

 diameter at the base. A greater height increases the difficulty 

 of pruning. The same reason forbids the adoption of a head 

 with a clean stem below, as in common standards. 



The pyramidal mode of pruning may be applied to pear- 

 trees upon pear stocks. Dwarf trees may be planted from ten 

 to twelve feet apart. They will always need careful attention 

 to pruning, 'and to thorough and enriched cultivation of the 

 ground. 



In planting out the dwarf pear, the quince stock should be 

 planted a little below the surface to elude the borer, which 

 often attacks the quince, but rarely the pear. It is sometimes 

 planted deeper for the purpose of causing the pear to throw 

 out roots of itself, thus changing the dwarf to a standard. 

 This practice is objectionable, as such roots are apt to be few 

 or one-sided, inclining or prostrating the tree. It is also de- 

 sirable to retain the bearing character of the dwarf. 



When dwarfs become old, or begin to decline, pear-roots 

 may be given to them, and renewed vigor imparted, by plant- 

 ing a small pear tree closely on each side, and, when these 

 become established, by inarching them into the tree, as shown 

 in the annexed cuts. It is performed as follows : 



Make a slit in the bark of the dwarf pear-tree, a few inches 

 above ground, and across the lower end of the slit make a 

 cross-cut, so as to form an inverted J.. If the tree is large, 

 make a notch instead of the cut, sloping downward, the better 

 to admit the stock. Then bend the stock against this notch 

 or cross-cut, and mark it at that point. Then, with a knife set 

 with the edge upward at this mark, cut the stock off with a 

 slope two or three inches long. It is then easily bent and in- 

 serted into the slit (see Figs. 636 and 637). It may be covered 

 with grafting-wax, but grafting-clay is much better. This is 

 made of clay or clay-loam one part, and horse-manure two parts, 

 well mixed together the addition of a little hair is an improve- 

 ment. This is an Old World method which may be adaptable 

 to a few trees in a garden, but is not applicable to commercial 

 orchards. 



Horizontal training, for walls or espaliers, is very rarely 

 practised or needed in this country. It is occasionally em- 

 ployed in limited gardens, to form boundaries of walks, with- 

 out occupying much lateral space, and where it is desired to 

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